Hearts to Shamrocks… Let Spring Begin!

Well here it is already, March and I’m just getting to blogging again. I will keep this as brief as possible but wanted to get an update on here before Easter! Phil didn’t see his shadow so that meant an early Spring would be coming. However, it has been a mix here in Pittsburgh. Sometimes we see snow and sometimes 60 degree days over the last month or so. I think, though writing this on the first official day of Spring, it is safe to say we are far from snow. Let’s hope so! This last month has been time well spent with family and cousins.

Valentine’s Day was a whole lot of fun. Ellia had a party at school and loved wearing pink all month. Also, the baby doll you see her holding is the baby she got for going POOP on the potty!!!! Not just any potty either, Nana and Papa’s big potty. However, she has only recently started attempting to try and go again. We were so proud of her that she deserved a new baby doll.

We also got together with the Barker’s at Mimi and Papa’s house to celebrate Val’s day as well. The cousin’s of course loved playing together. Ellia got a new rain coat and umbrella to sport when the storm clouds come. And Alex made her a special Valentine too.

And that same weekend we hung out at Aunt Kristin and Uncle Todd’s house with cousins Magerie and Garrett. The girls of course had fun chasing each other but Ellia really enjoyed when Magerie took a nap and she got to play / hold Garrett. She loves babies so much. She also is obsessed with Aunt Kelly’s belly and loves to move it around and say hi to baby Hannah.

In February we also celebrated Great Grandma Wenzel’s 75th Birthday. A true milestone for such a wonderful lady. The girls call her GG W. We took her out to the Olive Garden to eat and then had cake and ice-cream at Aunt Kelly and Uncle Ron’s place.

So far March hasn’t been that bad. The weather is finally breaking from the bitter cold and snow. Last week was St. Patrick’s Day and of course Ellia had another party at school. They had to bring in foods that were green to share. Ellia brough in green apples. They also have been able to spend time outside as well on the basketball court and field.

We went and visited with Great Grandma Angelo (or GG Angelo) this past weekend for some great food and to pick up some homemade soup. Ellia had fun going through all of GG’s plastic containers, coloring and playing play dough.

This past weekend was also our first time back to the park. Ellia remembered right way everything that was there and was so excited to see the swing, slide, duck and squirrel. It is neat to see how much she has grown since last year in height and in her ability. She was able to get on and off the duck and squirrel easily, climb up to the slide and go down all by herself. What a little girl she truly is turning into.

And again we had another poop on the potty experience this past weekend! A small breakthrough that still is to be greatly celebrated. She gets so excited and we just continue to encouraging her even if she still doesn’t go on the potty all the time. Kevin and I figure when the weather gets even nicer and she has less cloths to deal with then we will try the big girl pants.

Well that is our adventures in a nut shell of what we have been up to. Thank you to all of you who have kept my Dad in your prayers. He was in the hospital for a week with asthmatic bronchitis but is home now. He is still on oxygen and we hope to see a full recovery soon.

We are preparing now for Aunt Kelly’s baby shower and the glory of Easter. Hope you all enjoy these first signs of spring. With much love and blessings, in God's grace we will talk again soon.

Christmas 2010, New Year’s 2011 and then some!

Wow I am behind on updating this blog. January is over! February is here and the Super Bowl is this weekend!!! This is going to be a long post because I have been so far behind.
The Holiday’s went way too fast but what fun we had. Kevin and I took the week off between Christmas and New Years and enjoyed every minute of it. Of course I have lots to update everyone on.
Ellia had a blast at Christmas, however I think she almost expected to get presents every day. Not a good thing. Here is a picture of our tree. This is the first year we put up a big tree and it was the most favroite part of the room for Ellia. Santa came to school on Thursday before Christmas and Ellia still wasn’t too sure about him. Nana and Papa met us there to watch her take it all in.

Christmas Eve we went to Nana and Papa’s house to celebrate with all the Angelo’s. We had fun watching the kids open their gifts and also watching Great Grandma Wenzel’s reaction to her new flat screen TV. We tried to get a family shot with Great Grandma working the camera… not bad. Oh and not sure if you all know this but Kelly and Ron are pregnant!!!! Here is a picture to prove it. We are all ecstatic and they are just glowing. Baby Kauffman is due June 4th!

Christmas morning Ellia was almost dumfounded to find toys under the tree mostly all for her. She was very serious with unwrapping her gifts and took her good old time. She loved her new cabbage patch doll and her doll house. Her potty wasn’t that much of a hit but she was excited to show her friends at school.

That night we went to Aunt Jen and Uncle Dave’s to celebrate Christmas with Mimi & Papa. Again, more gifts and fun time hanging out with the cousins.

We also went bowling with Ellia during the week we were off. Papa really helped her a lot and she had a blast.

We visited with Nick and Angela and Isabella right before New Years. The girls had a good time playing together and opening gifts. Their favorite event of the night was the huge jumpy, ball and play center and the train rides in a pink bin. So cute!

New Years eve we just stayed in and hung out as a family. Ellia was asleep before midnight so when midnight came Kevin and I went up to her room and gave her a kiss. Then Kevin and I enjoyed some champagne and watched a movie. New Years day we hung out with the Angelo clan and Great Grandma Wenzel. The girls loved playing row, row, row your boat with Aunt Kelly. And then we visited with Great Grandma Angelo later that weekend.

January has been busy and cold this year. Ellia is doing very well with her potty. She took her new potty to school and was excited to be like all of her friends. She gets stickers on her daily report sheet to show mommy and daddy that she peed. We have told her that if she poops on the potty she will get a new baby doll but she is still scared to try that one. She has also successfully gone on the big potty too. We are taking it rather slow but Daycare says that she is doing well and tries every time they ask her if she has to go. I’m sure she will kill me for these pictures later on but they are too cute not to share.

January 23rd Samantha turned 2! Jen and Dave had a little party at their house that weekend. It was so much fun to see all the girl cousins together and all the kids interact.

Ellia had Wacky Wednesday at school and I think I had more fun dressing her up in miss match cloths. However I still managed to make the colors all match!

We met up with the Bohonak Family (my mom’s side) on the 29th to finally celebrate Christmas. Ellia enjoyed playing with Alex and Samantha and of course getting gifts again.

February 1st was Aunt Kristin’s Birthday so we celebrated last weekend. Don’t be fooled by the picture… she was okay with being 1 year into her 30’s!!! Oops did I say that! Just kidding Kris. Again, had a great time watching the girls play together and Garrett taking it all in.

Today Ellia had her Super Bowl Party at school. She kept yelling Go Steelers and talking about football. Thanks Aunt Jen for saving the day with the Steelers gear. Also, her teacher Mrs. Amy had the same shirt on as Ellia so we just had to take a picture.

I will have to start catching up on my blog more and try to remember the little details about what has been going on. They are truly what make life livable. Little miss continues to brighten up our days and make us smile. GOD IS SO GOOD! She has such personality and I know is going to be a dancer, performer, actress, chef, mommy..etc.… anyway...enjoy the Super Bowl and GO STEELERS!!!